Solve the Pigeonhole Principle Problem w/ PHP

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In summary, the conversation discusses a problem involving finding subsets of a set of 16 positive distinct integers that have the same number of elements and a difference in their sums that is less than 0.0025. It is suggested that this can be achieved by partitioning the interval [0,3.4] into smaller intervals and applying the pigeon hole principle. This method results in a better bound for the difference in the sums of the subsets.
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magneto1
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Ran across this problem reading another forum, and wonder if PHP allies here.

Given a set $X$ of 16 positive distinct integers, you can find non-empty, disjoint subsets $A, B \subset X$ such
that $A$ and $B$ have the same number of elements, and $|\alpha - \beta| < 0.0025$, where $\alpha = \sum_{a \in A} \frac 1a$, and $\beta = \sum_{b \in B} \frac 1b$.
 
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  • #2
magneto said:
Ran across this problem reading another forum, and wonder if PHP allies here.

Given a set $X$ of 16 positive distinct integers, you can find non-empty, disjoint subsets $A, B \subset X$ such
that $A$ and $B$ have the same number of elements, and $|\alpha - \beta| < 0.0025$, where $\alpha = \sum_{a \in A} \frac 1a$, and $\beta = \sum_{b \in B} \frac 1b$.
Given any subset $S$ of $X$, we have

$$
\sum_{s\in S}\frac{1}{s} \leq \sum_{x\in X} \frac{1}{x} \leq \frac{1}{1}+\frac{1}{2}+ \frac{1}{3}+\cdots +\frac{1}{16} \leq 3.4
$$

Let us denote the set of all the $8$ element subsets of $X$ by $X_8$.
Now there are $\binom{16}{8}=12,870$ distinct members in $X_8$.

Partition the interval $[0,3.4]$ into $12,869$ equal parts. So each part has length no more than $0.00027$.

By pigeon hole principle, some two members of $X_8$ will have their corresponding sums falling in a common partition. Thus we have $|\alpha -\beta|<0.00027$ for some $\alpha = \sum_{a\in A}1/a$ and $\beta = \sum_{b\in B}1/b$, where $A, B\in X_8$.

If $A$ and $B$ are not disjoint, then we consider $A'=A-B$ and $B'=B-A$. Thus we again have $|A'|=|B'|$, and

$$\sum_{a'\in A'}\frac{1}{a'}-\sum_{b'\in B'}\frac{1}{b'} = \alpha -\beta$$

This bound is better than the one the question asks for. May be I made some calculation error. I cannot find any errors.
 

1. What is the Pigeonhole Principle?

The Pigeonhole Principle is a mathematical principle that states that if n objects are placed into m containers, where n > m, then at least one container must contain more than one object. This principle is also known as the "box principle" or the "dirichlet principle".

2. How does the Pigeonhole Principle apply to PHP?

In PHP, the Pigeonhole Principle can be used to solve problems where there are more items than available options. For example, if there are 7 days in a week, but you have 8 tasks to complete, then at least one day must have more than one task assigned to it. This can be helpful in task scheduling and resource allocation in programming.

3. Can you provide an example of a Pigeonhole Principle problem solved with PHP?

Sure! Let's say you have a website that sells 10 different products, but you have 12 customers who want to purchase something. Using the Pigeonhole Principle, we know that at least 2 customers will have to purchase the same product. With PHP, we can write code to randomly assign each customer to a product and then check for any duplicates to ensure the principle holds true.

4. Are there any limitations to the Pigeonhole Principle in PHP?

Yes, there are a few limitations to keep in mind when using the Pigeonhole Principle in PHP. Firstly, it assumes that all items are equally likely to be placed into each container, which may not always be the case in real-world scenarios. Additionally, it only applies to problems where there are more items than options, and may not be applicable to all types of programming problems.

5. How can I learn more about the Pigeonhole Principle and its applications in PHP?

There are many resources available online to learn more about the Pigeonhole Principle and its applications in PHP. You can start by researching specific examples and practicing solving problems. Additionally, you may want to explore different algorithms and techniques that incorporate the Pigeonhole Principle, such as the "pigeonhole sort". Lastly, connecting with other programmers and joining online communities can also be a great way to learn and discuss different approaches to solving problems with the Pigeonhole Principle in PHP.

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